Belgium nominates Hans Kluge for the post of WHO director-general
The government of Belgium has nominated Hans Kluge, director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, for the position of WHO director-general.
"Effective today, in accordance with established WHO procedures, I am taking special leave from my position as director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. During this period, I look forward to engaging actively with member states, partners, and civil society in order to listen to their views and exchange perspectives on the future of our Organization and of global health," Kluge wrote on the social network X.
The Government of Belgium has nominated me for the position of WHO Director-General.
I am deeply honoured by the trust and confidence Belgium 🇧🇪has placed in me, and grateful for the opportunity to stand for this important responsibility.
Effective today, I will be on special… pic.twitter.com/kZJo6UydEH — Hans Kluge (@hans_kluge) August 21, 2026
According to him, the work of the WHO Regional Office for Europe will continue under the leadership of Dr. Corinne Capuano.
"My commitment to WHO, to its member states, and to the values of our Organization remains unshakable, as does my deep respect for the outstanding leadership of Dr. Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus], who has guided WHO through some of the most difficult trials in the history of global health.
Serving in WHO has been the greatest privilege of my professional life. I approach this new chapter with humility, optimism, and firm fidelity to the values that unite us in the pursuit of health for all," Kluge emphasized.
